By KATHERINE LAWTON, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 03:09 EDT, 12 April 2026 | Updated: 04:03 EDT, 12 April 2026

Patrick J. Adams won’t be jelly for long.

Meghan Markle has offered to send her former “Suits” co-star some jam from her As Ever company — after he didn’t make the PR list the first time around.

Earlier this week, while appearing on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, Adams revealed he was snubbed after host Amanda Hirsch jokingly bragged about receiving a jam, along with a handwritten note from the Duchess of Sussex.

“Did you?” Adams asked her in disbelief. “I did not get a jam!”

Adams speculated he “doesn’t have enough followers” to warrant free items from Markle’s lifestyle brand, which launched in April 2025.

“How was the jam? Be real,” he questioned. But Hirsch said she couldn’t answer because she is savoring the gift and has yet to open it.

“It’s in a box. And her letter to me is in a separate box,” Hirsch proudly explained.

“We should taste the jam though,” Adams quipped. “We should crack it open.”

After Hirsch posted the podcast clip via Instagram, Markle, 44, hopped in the comments section and promised Adams that he and his wife, Troian Bellisario, will receive some jam in the mail soon.

“Jams en route for you @patrickjadams & @sleepinthegardn Hugs to those beautiful babies,” Markle penned. “Send my love to your mom ❤️.”

Adams also gave some insight into what it was like working with Markle on the legal drama, in which they portrayed Michael Ross and Rachel Zane, respectively.

“I got a lot of eye rolls,” the 44-year-old admitted of his onscreen partner. “That was a constant with Meghan, her rolling her eyes at me like, ‘Oh my god, what are you doing?’”

The businesswoman acted on “Suits” for seven seasons that aired between 2011 and 2018. She left the show after her engagement to Prince Harry and stepped away from acting entirely.

“I’ve ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I’ve done there, and now it’s time to work with [Harry] as a team,” she said of her decision at the time.

But last year, she made her return to acting with a role in “Close Personal Friends.”

Prince William has sparked controversy with a somewhat lukewarm endorsement of the Church of England, which he will one day govern, after it was revealed he has a ‘quiet faith’.

However, if the Future King is in need of a spiritual boost, he need look no further for inspiration than his wife and sister-in-law Meghan Markle who have both leaned into their religious beliefs to manage some of life’s greatest obstacles.

The Princess of Wales reportedly used her faith as a tool while she navigated her cancer diagnosis, while King Charles also used his relationship with the church to manage his respective health battle.

Meanwhile, prior to meeting Prince Harry and converting into the Church of England, Meghan Markle, who was raised Protestant, would gather her Suits co-stars for a prayer circle before filming.

According to Meghan’s old school friend Ninaki Priddy, it was God who got the Duchess of Sussex through her ‘darkest moments’.

It comes as the Prince of Wales has revealed his commitment to the Church of England, despite not being a regular churchgoer.

Days before attending the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement, William for the first time confirmed his wish to forge ‘a strong and meaningful bond with the Church and its leadership’.

While the British monarch is required to be an Anglican to serve as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, other members of the Firm are not bound to a particular religion.

1. Meghan Markle 

Raised as a protestant who attended a Catholic school, Meghan’s faith is said to be a key part of her life, with the Duchess even routinely gathering her Suits castmates for a ‘prayer circle’ before they began filming.  

‘She used to gather the cast and crew of Suits for a prayer circle before starting work,’ they claimed. ‘Her invocations on set were never about a specific theology.

‘Instead, she wanted to bring everyone together during moments of transition or difficulty.’

Writing in Finding Freedom, royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand reveal that although the Duchess’ family was not overly religious, she was raised with an ‘awareness of God’. 

Her mother, Doria Ragland, was brought up Protestant and her father Thomas Markle became a confirmed member of the Episcopal Church at the age of 14, but Meghan attended a Catholic school for educational reasons.

According to Thomas, Meghan was not christened as a child because he and Doria did not share the same faith.

While studying at Northwestern, one of Meghan’s best friends came from a Christian family and the pair would reportedly ‘often pray together while at school’.

Close friend Ninaki told Mr Scobie and Ms Durand: ‘Part of what helped Meghan get through this difficult time was her faith.

‘Her relationship with God and with her church is extremely important to her. That’s something most people do not know about her. It plays a central role in her life, as an individual, as a woman.’

In 2018, Meghan underwent a ‘beautiful’ baptism into the Church of England ahead of her royal wedding.

A further source claimed: ‘It’s prayer and conversations with God that have gotten her through the darkest moments.

‘That’s something that plays a significant role in her life and her relationship with Harry. The two have been on a journey of faith together.’

2. The Princess of Wales 

When Kate was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, she reportedly turned more to her faith to manage her health battle and became ‘more interested’ in religion. 

The princess, who announced her diagnosis to the world in March 2024, was said to have become ‘rather more interested in questions of faith as a result of her condition’, according to royal author Robert Hardman. 

‘I would say that things are more hopeful there,’ one church-goer friend of the Waleses family told Mr Hardman in his book, King Charles III.

Meanwhile, according to royal expert Ian Pelham, her illness ‘strengthened Kate’s values with her Christian faith by talking to friends who have strong religious values’.

Mr Turner told Fox News Digital that these conversations had ‘impacted positively on her recovery’. 

‘It doesn’t surprise me that she is more interested in faith,” she said. “The power of faith can never be underestimated in overcoming challenging times and I hope [it] has given her immense solace,’ added Helena Chard. 

In line with her growing interest in religion, Kate has been pictured on occasion wearing a crucifix, including during a visit to Sandringham to view the floral tributes left following the death of the late Queen in 2022. 

She had worn the pendant on several occasions before, including in happier times at Trooping the Colour in 2019, which she attend with Prince William and their three children. 

The pendant features a diamond ‘bail’ – the part of the necklace that attaches a pendant to the chain.

3. The Prince of Wales 

For several years, there has been heightened speculation that William could be the first British monarch in five centuries to break official ties with the Church of England by not taking on the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England when he eventually becomes King. 

‘He (William) is a modern young man,’ a source previously told Mr Hardman. 

‘I think he gets embarrassed by certain aspects of ceremonial and religion.’

Meanwhile, a senior Palace figure said: ‘His father is very spiritual and happy to talk about faith but the Prince is not. He doesn’t go to church every Sunday, but then nor do the large majority of the country. He might go at Christmas and Easter but that’s it.

‘He very much respects the institutions but he is not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment.’

William, 41, was confirmed into the Anglican faith in 1997, when he was 14, but is understood to only attend a ‘handful’ of services each year, mainly connected with official engagements or on special occasions in the Christian calendar, as well as weddings and christenings.

However, ahead of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement, a source close to the prince recently told The Sunday Times that it is ‘really important’ to clarify William’s stance on religion.

They added: ‘His feeling is, ‘I might not be at church every day, but I believe in it, I want to support it, and this is an important aspect of my role and the next role, and I will take it seriously, in my own way.’

An aide to William said: ‘The Prince of Wales’s commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect, and for that reason it is not always fully understood.

‘Those who know him well recognise that his connection to the Church, and to the sense of duty that comes with it, runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere.’

4. King Charles

A regular churchgoer, King Charles has embraced his role as a modern monarch and spoken openly about his interest in other religions.

Despite holding the traditional title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Charles has presented himself as a ‘defender of all faiths’, and frequently hosted faith leaders and activists at Buckingham Palace. 

Before he was officially crowned, the royal delivered a speech in 2022 in which he emphasised the need to protect other religions, later addressing this directly during his coronation.

When the King’s Coronation arrived in May 2023, the event included a procession of faith leaders. 

In his first address to the nation upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II he spoke of his responsibility to the Church of England.

When he was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, Charles too reportedly relied on his faith as a source of comfort.

Shortly after the news of his illness broke, the King was pictured walking to St Mary Magdalene Church for a Sunday service.

5. Queen Elizabeth II 

Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II held her Christian faith dear after first attending church with her parents, the Queen Mother and King George VI, as a child – and she once said her religion was ‘an inspiration and anchor’ during her reign.

The Monarch’s dedication to her religion no doubt helped her through some of the most difficult times in her life – particularly after the loss of her husband Prince Philip in April last year.

During her Christmas Day address to the nation in 2021, Her Majesty paid tribute to her late husband for his devotion to her and dedication to public service throughout his life.

Later in the speech, she spoke of how the story of Christ helped her, and many others around the world, appreciate new beginnings.

During 70 years of her reign, the Queen’s Christmas Day speeches invoked Biblical references to the story of the birth of Christ, as well as other stories including the Good Samaritan. 

As the world prepared to ring in the new Millennium in the year 2000, the Monarch used her Christmas Day address to honour the birth of Christ once more.

She said: ‘Today we are celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ was born 2,000 years ago; this is the true millennium anniversary.’

The monarch added: ‘For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.

‘I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.’ 

Queen Camilla privately told a friend that Meghan Markle had “brainwashed” Prince Harry amid the royal family’s feud, according to a bombshell new book.

Author Tom Bower claims the remark came as relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal clan hit boiling point shortly after their lavish nuptials at St George’s Chapel in 2018.

The glamorous wedding in Windsor was followed by a Mediterranean honeymoon, but behind palace walls, the honeymoon period was already over.

According to Bower, whose new book is serialized in The Times, things turned ugly soon after the newlyweds returned to Britain.

A tense showdown between Harry and his older brother Prince William reportedly spiraled out of control, with Markle snapping at her brother-in-law during the confrontation.

“If you don’t mind, get your finger out of my face,” the “Suits” actress allegedly shot back at William during the explosive exchange, according to Bower.

Queen Camilla then allegedly vented to a friend with a blunt verdict: Markle had “brainwashed” Harry.

William reportedly already warned his younger brother that the whirlwind romance was moving too fast, Bower reported, citing sources.

“It’s gone too quickly,” he reportedly told Harry about his relationship with Markle.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, allegedly shared the same concerns, believing Harry might be vulnerable to Markle’s influence.

Bower also claimed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex felt lingering resentment about their place in the royal pecking order — forever destined to be “spares” rather than heirs.

According to the author, Harry eventually became “possessed by seeking revenge.”

The simmering tensions ultimately led to the Sussexes’ dramatic royal exit.

In 2020, Harry and Markle stepped down as senior working royals and left the UK, launching what critics called an all-out media offensive against the monarchy.

From their explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey to Harry’s tell-all memoir “Spare” in 2023, the couple repeatedly aired grievances about palace life.

The duke also stunned viewers with a headline-grabbing interview with the BBC that included more thinly veiled swipes at the royal family.

But there may finally be light at the end of the palace tunnel.

Harry could extend an olive branch by inviting his father, King Charles, to open the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, according to The Sun.

The father and son have had only two brief meetings in recent years, but the invite could see them standing side-by-side on stage as Harry fulfills a longtime dream of having the King launch the event.

Meanwhile, Markle is dealing with fresh headaches of her own.

Last week, Page Six exclusively revealed that Netflix ended its partnership with her lifestyle brand As Ever.

An industry insider told Page Six the collaboration no longer made sense after her planned series “With Love, Markle” failed to move forward.

Still, Markle’s team insists the brand is moving full steam ahead, saying it’s now “ready to stand on its own” with “an exciting year ahead.”

Next up for Markle? A luxury women’s retreat in Australia — where fans can pay up to $2,288 for VIP access.

The pricey getaway will coincide with Harry and Markle’s upcoming Australian tour, which is expected to include private meetings, business appearances and philanthropic events.

And if history’s any guide, the royal drama is far from over. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will visit Australia in April for private and public engagements, with the Duchess attending a luxury weekend retreat in Sydney

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are travelling to Australia next month for a brief unofficial royal visit, where Meghan will be the star attraction at a ‘girls weekend’ retreat in Sydney.

The Duchess of Sussex will deliver speeches throughout the “weekend like no other,” including at a grand dinner, with VIP ticket purchasers also able to secure a photograph with the Duchess.

Supporters have been taken aback by the cost of attending the event, with tickets beginning at a staggering £1,439. This price includes participants’ accommodation at a beachside Sydney hotel and entry to three days of activities, including a gala dinner, yoga and meditation sessions, and a disco celebration.

Those wishing to get even closer to Meghan can buy the VIP experience tickets, which are being offered for £1,705 per person. Alongside the weekend’s activities, this ticket guarantees seating at a table in the front two rows for the gala dinner with Meghan, as well as a group table photograph with the Duchess of Sussex.

This means that for an additional £266 per person, devoted admirers of Meghan can get a group photograph with the Duchess during her rare Sydney visit.

A promotional message about the multi-day event states: “A girls’ weekend like no other! An unforgettable weekend for women ready to reconnect, recharge and have some serious fun. Join us for an intimate luxury weekend by the ocean designed to bring women together for powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experience.”

The last time the Duchess of Sussex travelled to Australia, she reportedly complained that she wasn’t receiving payment for the walkabouts, according to claims in a royal book. Harry and Meghan were last down under in 2018, where they spent 16 days travelling around Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand on their first royal tour as a married couple, reports the Mirror.

During the tour, huge crowds turned out to see them as they visited the countries and attended an impressive 76 engagements. A book written by former The Times’ royal correspondent Valentine Low claims that Meghan “enjoyed the attention” she received but did not understand the point of royal walkabouts.

Mr Low writes in Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown that the Duchess of Sussex showed a “refreshingly informal approach to royal visits” which was “a hit with the Australian public”. However, despite being hailed as an “inspirational role model”, the royal expert revealed that it was a different story behind the scenes.

The book reads: “Although she enjoyed the attention, Meghan failed to understand the point of all those walkabouts, shaking hands with countless strangers.” Quoting unnamed members of staff, the book claims that Meghan was heard saying: “I can’t believe I’m not getting paid for this.”

Meghan isn’t the only one making appearances at high-profile events during their Australian tour, with Prince Harry also delivering a speech at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne. This event is described as a “professional development summit designed to equip leaders, practitioners, and changemakers with the knowledge and tools to create mentally healthy, safe, and high-performing workplaces.”

Tickets for this mental health summit begin at £1,054, with proceeds from ticket sales being donated to Lifeline. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Harry and Meghan would be visiting Australia for the first time in over seven years, spending time in Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April.

A representative for the couple stated: “Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will visit Australia in mid-April to take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements. Further details will be shared in due course.”

It is understood that their children, Archie and Lilibet, will not accompany them on this trip.

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER

Published: 02:23 EDT, 11 March 2026 | Updated: 03:03 EDT, 11 March 2026

Former royal butler says the ‘Fab Four’ relationship soured in the months before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties in January 2020

The “turning point” in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with the royal family occurred just before the couple announced they were departing for the US, an expert has claimed. It is believed “something must have happened” prior to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex making the shocking announcement in January 2020.

Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, suggested the pair enjoyed a positive relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales until they stepped back from The Firm, when they were dubbed the “Fab Four”. However, it was reportedly during the months leading up to their announcement that their relationship appeared to deteriorate.

Mr Harrold explained: “We saw William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan do so many things together initially, but the turning point was a few months before the announcement that they were stepping away from royal duties. They were doing events in the summer prior to that, so something must have happened in between.”

Speaking on behalf of OLBG, Mr Harrold stated Prince William was “genuinely happy” his brother had found someone. Images captured of the four together in 2019, including a photograph at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, showed just how close they had been.

Nevertheless, he says “something must have happened” before Harry and Meghan departed the UK. In a statement issued when they made this choice, the couple said: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”

It’s understood that Harry and Meghan did not consult Queen Elizabeth or the then-Prince Charles before releasing their shocking statement in early 2020, reports the Mirror. Since then, the Duke of Sussex, 41, has told The Telegraph: “I don’t think he fully appreciated the impact the statement would have in terms of them not consulting the Queen. He regrets that.”

The startling announcement from Harry and Meghan prompted the Queen to release her own statement, confirming that the couple were no longer “full-time working members of the royal family”.

In her statement, she expressed that she would have “preferred” for the Sussexes to remain. She conceded that she understood their decision and supported their “wish to live a more independent life as a family whilst remaining a valued part of my family”.

The Duchess of Edinburgh’s Kenyan tour has officially gotten underway, with a joyful Sophie captured dancing with women at beads workshop in Nairobi.

Sophie, 61, has embarked on a two-day trip across the East African country to highlight the vital role of women in both peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

On the first day of her visit the Duchess met with Kenya’s President, William Ruto, at the State House in Nairobi to discuss the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership.

Sophie attended a lunch with leading businesswomen from the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya (BCCK) and also a Women In Leadership reception, hosted by Acting British High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr Ed Barnett.

Earlier that day, the passionate Duchess showcased her dance abilities during a trip to the Kazuri Beads workshop – as she enjoyed traditional music with the talented women who run the thriving local business.

The joyful moment delighted many royal fans who took to Instagram to praise ‘lovely’ Sophie for ‘making royalty look easy’.

‘Wonderful Duchess,’ commented one user, before adding: ‘Others should take note, that’s a real Duchess’. Meanwhile, another added: ‘I love how she gives everything a go’.

It comes as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry embarked on their two-day quasi-royal tour of Jordan at the invitation of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

As part of their Middle East trip, the pair have visited Za’atari Refugee Camp and the Specialty Hospital in Amman, alongside a rehabilitation centre for recovering addicts.

According to a royal expert, Sophie’s ‘remarkable’ advocacy work could have been replicated by Meghan, a passionate feminist, had she remained a senior working member of the Royal Family.

Richard Fitzwilliams previously told The Daily Mail: ‘Sophie has influence in ways that really matter, which Meghan could have been.

‘It does involve compromise, but think what could have been achieved for an important cause she claims is so dear to her heart.’

Mr Fitzwilliams added that Sophie has ‘proved she’s the Royal Family’s champion of women rights’ through her continued commitment to advocating for women’s issues and conflict-related sexual violence, amongst other causes.

Since the onset of her royal career, the Duchess of Edinburgh has deliberately focused her charity work around the importance of raising awareness of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and has championed the UN’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda. 

Meghan, meanwhile, has also been unafraid to speak on important public matters and was insistent that when she joined the Royal Family she would be continuing her advocacy work in her new role. 

In 2015, before she began dating Prince Harry, Meghan gave a keynote address on gender equality for UN Women in New York.

She received a standing ovation from guests including Ban Ki-moon, then UN secretary-general. 

Then in 2018, Meghan went off-script at the Royal Foundation Forum and spoke about women’s empowerment.

She said: ‘Women don’t need to find a voice because they have a voice, they need to be empowered to use it and people need to be encouraged to listen.’

Mr Fitzwilliams explained: ‘In her visits to Rwanda in 2016 and India in 2017 and in a memorable speech to the United Nations International Women’s Day Conference in 2015, she campaigned for equal opportunities.

‘She stressed this in her visits to the Antipodes and South Africa when she and Harry were still senior working members of the royal family.’

Meghan herself declared at the time: ‘With fame comes opportunity, but it also includes responsibility – to advocate and share, to focus less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings.’

She previously insisted that it is essential to use one’s voice to advocate for change and that ‘hashtags are not enough’.

Sophie’s trip to Kenya came after a rare two-day visit to Somalia at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to draw attention to violence against women and how women can help to enhance peace and resillience. 

As part of her visit to the war-torn nation, Sophie met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia to discuss how women can help to enhance peace and resilience across communities.

She was later joined by first daughter Jihan Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to meet survivors of gender and sexual-based violence perpetuated by al-Shabaab militants, and received briefings from key local partners about the prevalence of SGBV.

During a visit to a Somali village in Lower Shabelle, the empathetic duchess spoke with the wives of Somali soldiers about the risk of violence and the array of personal challenges they face.

The following day, Sophie held a meeting at the British Embassy with Somali organisations and partners to discuss the array of gender-based challenges exacerbated by conflict, drought and a lack of resources.

She later visited a hospital in central Mogadishu to learn about the devastating impact of female genital mutilation, rape and sexual assault on Somali women and the role a UK-funded service programme has played in strengthening service delivery.

Sophie’s east-Africa regional tour is seen as an ongoing commitment to her pledge to raise awareness of the issue of sexual violence. 

In recent years the King’s sister-in-law, who is married to his brother, Prince Edward, has travelled to current and former war zones including Chad, the Congo, Kosovo, South Chad, Lebanon and Sierra Leone.

She has devoted much of her latter working life as a royal to supporting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and is passionate about championing gender equality.

In April 2024, Sophie bravely denounced Putin’s forces for using rape as weapon of war as she became the first British royal to visit Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

In October, the royal visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to ‘shine a light’ on the ‘weaponisation of rape’.

During her three-day visit, she met female peacebuilders working at the grassroots level to highlight their efforts supporting local peace initiatives and witnessed the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict, particularly on women and girls.

In June, the duchess spoke passionately about her campaign to highlight the plight of victims of sexual violence and insisted that the country ‘must do better’.

At the UK’s first exhibition dedicated to the subject, Sophie, who made the visit ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, declared that the topic was woefully ‘under-discussed’.

The duchess spoke movingly about a visit she had made to Kosovo in 2019 and how deeply moved she had been when speaking to women about the ‘shame and stigma’ they experienced as a result of being brutalised.